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cloudy, high wind, light snow

cloudy, light snow or rain all the day

snow almost the whole of the day
cloudy, some rain

cloudy, some very light rain

cloudy, afternoon rain

cloudy, very foggy

cloudy, afternoon light snow

clear, evening cloudy, very light snow
cloudy

cloudy, afternoon very light rain
light snow in the night, day cloudy
mostly cloudy

cloudy, some very light rain, windy
cloudy, very light sprinkling rain
cloudy, frequent light rain

The average degrees of Temperature, from observations made at eight o'clock in the morning, are 30-77 100ths; those of the corresponding month in the year 1811 were 35-51 100ths; in 1810, 33-32 100ths; in 1809, 37-94 100ths; in 1808, 33-10 100ths; in 1807, 31-55 100ths; in 1806, 44-44 100ths; in 1805, 37; and in 1804, 33-50 100ths. The quantity of Rain fallen this month is equal to 48 100ths of an inch; that of the corresponding month in the year 1811, was 2 inches 15 100ths; in 1810, 5 inches 24 100ths; in 1809, 2 inches 68 100ths; in 1808, 1 inch 52 100ths; in 1807, 2 inches 5 100ths; in 1806, 6 inches 39 100ths; in 1805, 3 inches 77 100ths; and in 1804, 1 inch 45 100ths.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE for January, 1813. By W. CARY, Strand. Height of Fahrenheit's Thermometer.

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Height of Fahrenheit's Thermometer.

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12 $4 37
13 33 38 34
14 34 37 33
15 34 38 30
16 30 43 34 ,90 fair
17 33 37 32 30,15 cloudy
18 29 34

32

,04 cloudy
,08 sleet

Dec.

Dec.

27

32 34 31

28

30 36 36

30,47 cloudy
,45 cloudy

29 39 46 43

,15 cloudy

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,60 small rain

26

55 fair

30

70 fair

28

38 32

90 Fair

26 34 38 34

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32

34

35

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39 cloudy

33 19 cloudy

29 30 cloudy

33

40 foggy

6 cloudy

36 33

86 sleet and rain

523422

19 32 33 32

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, For JANUARY, 1813.

Mr. URBAN,

SEEL

Jan. 15,

EEING a Letter in your Magazine for December 1812, signed "N.S." with a conjecture respecting the Author of Junius, namely, that it was William Earl of Shelburne, afterwards first Marquis of Lansdowne,-I desire to give some reasons which militate against that conjecture.

I grant that there are some circumstances in its favour: that he was certainly a man of superior talents, as well as knowledge and information; and that he was well acquainted with public men and the public measures which were transacting within the ten years when Junius wrote, namely from 1762 to 1772 inclusive; that he was also, according to Mr. Park's opinion, quoted by you, an orator, aliberal patron of the arts, and a most amiable man in private life; that he had an accurate knowledge of the history and constitution of his own, and of the state of other countries; and that he was a profound politician. I believe also, that he was a sincere lover of his Country; friendly to Ireland, in which he had a large property as well as in England; and very hostile also to every species of oppression either in public or private life. Nor do I think it can give the least offence to the friends of that illustrious Nobleman, by endeavouring to place on his brow a sprig of that laurel which the ablest writer of the age might have proudly

worn.

I admit too, that Lord S. was, from the first to the latest period of his life, a man of great ambition; and that he got the best information, both at home and abroad, of what was passing in the world. I admit also, that it is not inconsistent with the opinion of his being the Author, that his name might have been used in such terms as could not have been by him, unless for the purpose of setting suspicion at rest, an observation which applies equally to

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Lord George Sackville, and to any other of the numerous persons who are conjectured to be the Author.

I know that, notwithstanding the great merit of that Nobleman in public life, and the great services that he has rendered to the State, not only by his liberal endeavours on many occasions to serve his Country, but by many of his actions, particularly by effecting a Peace in the Autumn of 1782 both with France and with the United States of America, at a time when this Country was in the greatest difficulties, and in a great dilemma, owing to the violence of parties having in the Spring of that year tied up the hands of the Sovereign, and consequently of the Country, from car. rying on an offensive war with America, so that it was impossible to proceed with the war except under the greatest disadvantage; I am aware that, notwithstanding this eminent service, which produced the famous Coalition between two great Statesmen, who had for ten years: never agreed upon any thing before, the Noble Lord has been ever since loaded with the most unmerited calumny by the numerous partizans of those two great men, who thus made him a sacrifice. I also know that, from a certain too great for-› wardness of manner, and precocity of discourse, a great degree of insincerity and duplicity has been imputed to him; whereas those who have known him well bear ample testimony to his many distinguished virtues.

The principal idea of “N. S." in › attributing the " Letters of Junius" to the Earl of Shelburne, is from a coinparison of the fac-simile letters published by Mr. Woodfall, with a short note from his Lordship, in which, he says, there are some shades of resemblance. This alone, he confesses, would be an insufficient ground for the supposition he has adopted. In 1709, he was sworn of the Privy

Conseil,

Council, at the age of 26, and made First Lord of Trade. In July 1766, he was appointed Secretary of State in the Southern Department, and resigned with Lord Chatham in Oct.

1765.

It is well known, that the Author of Junius assumed that name long before he wrote in the "Public Advertiser" under that title, which was in January 1769. He had written to Mr. Woodfall under different signatures since April 1767, and probably had written in other Newspapers pre

vious to that time.-It lias been seen that Lord S. had been in several high situations since the year 1763, besides, having been Aide-de-camp to his Majesty in 1760; and, having been an M. P. before, he succeeded his father as Lord Wycombe and Earl of Shelburne in May 1761. Being appointed Secretary of State in July 1766, with the Earl of Chatham Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Grafton First Lord of: the Treasury, and Lord Camden Chancellor ;-it is a strong proof of their opinion of his principles as well as his abilities, and very unlikely he should so soon have taken up his pen to decry them individually and collectively; in which latter capacity he himself was involved. Besides, Lord S., was a man of an immense property both in England and Ireland; and it is not likely he should descend to the situation of an anonymous scribbler in a Newspaper; being a man too of a very high mind, as well as of great personal spirit and courage, as he evinced upon more than one occasion. That his abilities were not. unequal to this work, if he had condescended to have engaged in it, must be allowed; but it was by no means compatible with the dignity of his character.

With regard to the similarity of hands, it is certainly a very fallacious ground, I myself having seen many score letters of that Nobleman to different persons, and all very different from any of the fac-similes given by Mr. Woodfall.

I wish, Mr. Urban, I could give assistance, in my conjectures concerning this anonymous Writer; though I by no means agree with him in all his positions. He certainly must have had very authentic as well as minute information of every thing going on in the political world; but I do not

think he is one of the first-rate characters he is supposed to be, as Lord George Sackville, Mr. Burke, &c.; though he might have had information from many or all of them at different times, and may have been connected with some of them in politicks.

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I ought to apologize for this long Epistle; and therefore will subscribe myself for the present, JUNIOR.

Mr. URBAN,

YOU

Jan. 1.

OU well know the great moralist Dr. Johnson's opinion both of Junius, and of the tendency of his writings, and you well recollect that he offered him battle; yet, whatever. was his reason, Junius never returned to the fieid, but laid down his arms.

His celebrated Letters have run

through many editions; the last of which, by Mr. Woodfall, you have a with great impartiality reviewed ; ; and have likewise admitted in the front of your Magazine for Decem ber, an interesting Letter relative to the supposed Author.

Really, Mr. Urban, I could not help imagining I saw your old acquaintance the Doctor with your book close to his eye, exclaiming, "What! has Sylvanus quite forgotten me? that Junius engrosses so many pages of his Miscellany.-Ah! he appears again, and on my old ground too, now I no more can meet him!" G. W. L.

Mr. URBAN,

FROM

Jan. 19.

ROM the singular coincidence of: the two following Letters (the first of which has appeared in "The Morning Herald," and the other in "The Morning Post," Jan. 15,) with that in your last Volume, p. *499,* (which neither of the Writers appears to have seen) you will perhaps think them worth transcribing. It will be candid, at the same time, to insert the subsequent letter of refutation.

Yours, &c. INVESTIGATOR. 1."JUNIUS. It is said, that the Author of the celebrated Letters under this sig nature has been positively ascertained; and that they were written by the Marquis of Lansdowne, father of the present Nobleman who bears that title. secret, it appears, was not discovered by its connexion with any political affairs ; but by some verses in the possession of a

The

Lady, who had a copy of them before

they

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they were transmitted to the Printer for publication, and the hand-writing of the Marquis is ascertained without the possibility of a doubt. It is well known, that the Marquis was long suspected of being the Author; and it is by no means improbable that he wrote the letters in conjunction with his intimate friends Dunning and Colonel Barre, the one supplying the legal knowledge, and the other many of the bitter sarcasms which were spread through them, and which, are quite in the manner of the Colonel, who also probably furnished the military information. Junius's declaration, that he was the sole depositary of his own secret, is entitled to little confidence; as he could fully rely on the fidelity of such associates, particularly as they were as much interested in the concealment às himself."

2. On the leaf preceding the titlepage of a very curious old book which lately came into my possession, the following memorandum is written; which, if true, discloses a secret that has long held the literary world in suspense:

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The Letters commonly called Junius, which have made so much noise in the world, were the production of Malagrida, well known in the political circles as the Jesuit, whose principles and abilities exactly qualified him, morally and literally, for such performances. This intriguing Statesman was but young when he set out on this career; and his petty name corresponded with the signature which he assumed. (Signed)

J.

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"Lincoln's Inn, Jan. 18.

3. For a decisive refutation of the conjecture contained in your Paper of this day, as well as in the last month's Gentleman's Magazine, that the Earl of Shelburne (designated by the nick-name of Malagrida) was the Author of Junius's Letters, it would be quite enough to read the character given of that Nobleman by Junius, in one of his best letters, under the signature of Atticus*, in vol. III. p. 173, of Woodfall's new edition. But, in addition to this, it be truly may observed, that his Lordship's style, either of public speaking or of writing,

* On this part of the transaction, see vol. LXXXII. p. *500.—EDIT,

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opulence of the inhabitants of this truly fortunate Country, fortu nate in escaping the horrors of Re-volution and foreign invasion, the scourge of three-fourths of the world; it is very natural to wish that Eng land might be equally distinguished's for the cultivation of the Fine Arts, as it is for all the useful and necessary comforts of life, for manufactures, commerce, and arms.

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The Readers of your widely-circu lated pages must observe with, pleasure, that a new æra has occurred-in regard to one part of the subject now under consideration. The general taste which has prevailed of late years for travelling and exploring the rich scenes presented to our view in afl parts of the Empire, in the ruins of religious houses and castles, frequently situated in places abounding with. all the luxuriance of rocks, mountains, wood, and water, has insensibly formed numerous artists, ama-; teurs, and admirers of topographical delineations; whose ideas being ardently directed to the subject, a correctness of judgment was generated, which led to a power of discriminating on the merits of each effort of the pencil and graver offered to public, view; and the result is, that even mediocrity will not satisfy now, where error and coarseness formerly met with approbation. This may be exemplified by referring to any tour, county history, or work of that uature, published previous to the year 1760, and comparing the miserable bird's eye views (composed of objects little less ludicrous in their arrangemen of perspective than Hogarth's plate to illustrate such errors) engraved in a raw style almost without shading, and perfectly innocent of every graphic charm, with the rich and correct engravings of recent time, abounding with touches that evi dently spring from the same source whence originate the noblest traits of the pencil.

It is sufficient for the present purpose, to draw the attention to these facts, and the very numerous engrav

ings of cathedrals and religious and castellated ruins, to shew the truth of the preceding remarks; and it will incontestably prove, that a taste for the Arts has arisen, which, if properly encouraged, will in due time spread into all the ramifications of which they are susceptible; and here we may refer for an example to the grand and expensive engravings of public events so greatly multiplied within the last thirty years, which do honour to England, the artists, and the liberality of their purchasers. A rich source still remains for the universal improvement of our knowledge of the Fine Arts, in the treasures we possess of many of the finest works of the antient masters, honour ably procured by purchase from their original possessors, and now forming different and most valuable collections in the houses of the noble and the opulent. The Italians long since offered us an inviting example, by perpetuating their best pictures with the graver; and the French deserve honourable mention for their graphic copies of various cabinets in their own country; nor must it be forgotten, that the English have made solitary attempts in this way, and of great excellence, but want of encouragement from the publick paralyzed their efforts.

It cannot but be acknowledged, that no more certain way is practicable to improve the judgment in drawing and colouring, than by a minute and critical examination of the Works of the celebrated ContiDental Painters, whose labours are an aggregate of all that is excellent in art, or attainable by man. That examination being in a great measure necessarily denied to the publick at large, it was highly desirable that some measure should be resorted to in order to obviate this difficulty; and fortunately for the future hopes of the artist and his admirers, and of. the country, a liberal spirit of enterprise has suggested, and in part accomplished, a plan, by which numbers of the community will be supplied with close and accurate copies in engraving of all that is estimable in this way in England.

Had the patronage afforded to the undertaking alluded to been less brilliant and imposing, it would have been no great proof of despondency

to have feared an abrupt termination of the labours of the artists employed; but when the King, Queen, and six other members of the Royal Family, and Ferdinand the Fourth of Sicily, appear, with a long list of the noble and affluent, as patrons and subscribers, it is only reasonable to look forward to the completion of the design. Longman and Co. Booksellers, White and Cochrane, Cadell and Davies, and P. W. Tomkins, are the Publishers. W. Y. Ottley, esq. F. S. A. conducts the series from the Marquis of Stafford's collection, and remarks on each picture, which he arranges according to schools, and in chronological order. And thus the generous and patriotic spirit of the Marquis enables the pro"prietors to offer the publick the contents of his superb gallery, under the title of "The British Gallery of Pictures. First Series."

The second Series consists of Engravings of the finest Paintings of the old Masters, selected from the most admired productions of Rafaello, Giulio Romano, Andrea del Sarto, Corregio, Parmigiano, Baroccio, Tiziano, Giorgione, Annibale Caracci, Dominichino, Guido, Salvator Rosa, Reubens, Poussin, Claude Lorraine, Teniers, Ostade, Rembrandt, Gherard Dow, Paul Potter, Cuyp, &c.; and those are derived from various collections of Noblemen and Gentlemen, whose public spirit keeping pace with that of the Noble Marquis just named, has permitted copies of them to be taken. This Series is accompanied with descriptions historical and critical by Henry, Tresham, esq. R. A.; the executive part under the management of Mr. Tomkins, Historical Engraver to Her Majesty. Those impressions which are coloured are done from the copies in a manner so truly rich, faithful, and original, that they are as nearly equal to the picture as it is possible the different branches of the Arts employed will permit; and the amateur will undoubtedly appreciate them ac cordingly.

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As it is incumbent upon each iudividual of the State to promote, as far as in him lies, the honour of the, Country, a description of this splen did National Undertaking must prove. acceptable to those who have not yet seen it, from one who is in no manner known to the persons employed in its execution.

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